Human Brain
Why Doctors’ Suicide Rate Is So High
It all starts with the length and the intensity of the medical training. After college, there are years of training in the primary specialty, and more if one wants to subspecialize. In my case, there were 5 years of general surgery, and 2 years of cardiovascular subspecialty. All that after
Miracle of the Human Brain
A human brain is the most complicated object in the Universe. If we compare the heart to a pump, skeleton to framing, digestive tract to a chemical factory, a human brain is a sophisticated computer. It’s so advanced, we don’t know how does it work. We don’t even know how
Where Is The Memory Stored?
In my previous post, I mentioned Paulo Coelho in By the River I Sat Down and Wept. The story was read by some as borrowed from the Hundredth monkey effect, originally described in the 1950s, and developed into a theory by Lyall Watson in the 1970s. It made a point
We know very little about our brains.
The human brain is a marvelous creation. The function of our brains fascinates me. But the more I study, the longer I live, fuller I realize how little we know. And this pertains not only to us, but even more to the professionals. How is the memory stored? Short-term memory?
Why Doctors Commit Suicides
This had happened at the end of one of my surgical boards’ exams, quite a long time ago. The day was long and we were all exhausted. We were also anxious to know if we passed. Years of studies, sacrifices and high expectations finally came to the end. We were
Retirement Is a Perfect Time for More Education
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication Leonardo da Vinci Friday morning vascular department conferences are special for me. For several reasons. Firstly, it’s the time. The conference starts at 7am. I usually get up at 5am, get ready, read emails and news. Car drive is lonely and quiet. No comparison to
What Poetry Can Do to You
I am not confused, I am just well mixed Robert Frost I was waiting in front of the elevator after Duke’s vascular conference has ended. I pushed the desired floor button, waiting for a car to come. Then I noticed a poem displayed on the wall between the doors and
Addictions and How Do They Influence Our Lives
“Every form of addiction is bad, no matter whether the narcotic, or alcohol or morphine or idealism C.G. Yung Pete Rose, the greatest ever baseball hitter, was banned from entering the Hall of Fame because of gambling addiction. There are asterisks next to Barry Bonds’ all time home runs record
What’s Better: Being Smart, Intelligent or Wise?
It’s not that I am so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer. Albert Einstein Be as smart as you can, but remember that it is always better to be wise than to be smart. Alan Alda A smart man only believes half of which he hears, a
Life Is About the Stories.
Moving to new, different communities involves meeting new friends. A few months ago we met our neighbor from across the street, we will call him Ernie. He used to be a car shop owner. Is also retired, just much more than me. We visit occasionally and tell stories over a
The Age of Highest Achievements
It is fair to say, that coming to my age, most of the people look back and contemplate what was the highest achievement of their life, what was they being most proud of. Was it a professional career? Family live? Athletic accomplishments? Maybe a significant discovery? Or social connections? And
“The Paradox of Choice” on TED is an Example of How to Control Your Mind.
A few days ago, Chris sent me a link to Barry Schwartz’s lecture on TED…”Take a look, very provocative” he said. And it was. The speaker was talking about the negative effects of too many choices on human life. Too many choices increase paralysis and decrease satisfaction. Having too many
